ObituariesDwayne Petty ATKINS -- Franklin Dwayne Petty, 71, of Atkins passed away Tuesday, April 4, 2017, at the Arkansas Hospice River Valley Home in Russellville. He was born Jan. 27, 1946, in Biscoe, son of the late Ruben and Edna Divine Petty. He was a wonderful husband, father and brother. He loved spending time gardening, fishing and hunting with his family. He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Irene Ramsey, Jean Culbertson and ...

Obituary: Faye LunsfordDANVILLE — Faye Lunsford, age 86, of Hot Springs passed away Thursday, April 06, 2017, at Garland County Nursing Home. She was born Nov. 7, 1930, at Plainview, to the late Edward Calvin and Eda Hawks Dickson. Faye was a homemaker and mother. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ben Lunsford; sisters, Velma, Margie and Ruby. Survivors include her daughters, Diana Lunsford and Darlene Turpin, both of Hot Spring; sisters, Mae Jones ...

Obituary: Robert KernsRobert Wayne “Bob” Kerns, age 57, of Dardanelle died Wednesday, April 5, 2017, at his home. He was born April 10, 1959, in Hector to George Alvin “Chock” and Gwendolyn Garrigus Kerns. He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by three brothers and three sisters. Burial will be private in Phoenix Cemetery and under the direction of Shinn Funeral Service of Russellville. The online obituary and guestbook are available at www.shinnf...

Obituary: Ken NorthcottKen Northcott, 63, of Russellville went to be with his Lord, Wednesday, April 5, 2017. He was born Aug. 6, 1953, in St Louis, Mo., to Cyril Northcott and Mary Yerber Northcott. He is preceded in death by his parents; grandparents and step-grandson, Nathanial James Castro. He is survived by his loving wife, Janice Northcott; two daughters, Stephanie Matthews and Jason; Melissa Verwiebe and Noah; stepdaughter, Jessica Castro and Michael; two gra...

Obituary: Eunice FielderDARDANELLE — Eunice Shinn Fielder, age 92, of Dardanelle died Wednesday, April 5, 2017, at Russellville Nursing and Rehab Center. She was born May 19, 1924, at Birta, to Robert Delbert and Janie Davis Shinn. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Claude; sisters, Syble Watkins, Clara Moody, Duvle Watkins and Alliene Blacklock and a niece, Ada Sue Vittitow. She enjoyed gardening, working puzzle and reading. She spent much of her ret...

Obituary: Ernest PfeiferDARDANELLE — Ernest Pfeifer, age 94, of Dardanelle died Tuesday, April 4, 2017, at the Atkins Nursing Center. He was born Nov. 29, 1922, at Dardanelle, to the late Van and Francis Kubat Pfeifer. Ernest was a WWII veteran with the Navy and served on the U.S.S. John M. Birmingham in the Mediterranean and Eastern Europe. He graduated from Dardanelle High School in 1941, graduated from Arkansas Tech and obtained a Master’s degree at the University...

Obituary: James Helms Jr.HOT SPRINGS — James Harold Helms Jr., retired, passed away, April 4, 2017. He was born Dec. 20, 1944, to James Harold Helms, Sr. and Florence (Weise) Helms. Jim graduated from Malvern High School and Arkansas Tech University. He enjoyed most in life helping others. Jim was a member of Hot Springs Baptist Church, where he sang in the choir. He was an ordained deacon and was involved in missions with his church. Jim had an enthusiastic love for ...

Obituary: Dwayne PettyATKINS — Franklin Dwayne Petty, 71, of Atkins passed away Tuesday, April 4, 2017, at the Arkansas Hospice River Valley Home in Russellville. Arrangements are currently pending under the direction of Lemley Funeral Service of Atkins. A complete obituary will be published in a future edition of The Courier. Online obituary and condolences are available at www.lemleyfuneral.com

Obituary: Effa MottEffa Lee Mott, 62, of Russellville died Monday, April 3, 2017, at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was born Feb. 12, 1955, in Liberty, Texas to Lee Edward Mott Sr. and Opal Fregia. She is preceded in death by her parents and sister, Joyce Terrell. Survivors include her loving husband of 32 years, Marvin Jackson Sr.; five children, Sarah Fregia, Bright Eyes Tanton, Marvin Jackson Jr., Benny Mott, Oneal Tanton; two brothers, Lester ...

Obituary: Paul ChisumPaul Monroe Chisum, 74, of Dover, formerly of Falling Water, died Tuesday, April 4, 2017, at his home. He was born July 3, 1942, at Falling Water, to George Washington and Dorothy Lavada Freeman Chisum. He married Miss Beatrice Mae Ledford on Aug. 27, 1960, at Russellville, and worked for Bibler Lumber Company for more than 31 years as a bulldozer operator. He was a member of the Falling Water Church where he formerly served as a deacon, a mus...

Obituary: Ken NorthcottKen Northcott, 63, of Russellville went to be with his Lord, Wednesday, April 5, 2017. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. today at Russellville Family Funeral Chapel. Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Friday, April 7, 2017, at Victory Assembly of God Church, in Atkins. Burial will be in St. Joe Cemetery, Atkins, under the direction of Russellville Family Funeral. A complete obituary will be published in a future edition of The Courier. Paid obituary

Obituary: Patricia WrightDARDANELLE — Patricia Louise Wright, age 76, of Dover died Tuesday, April 4, 2017, at her home. She was born Jan. 11, 1941, at Manila to James W. Wortham and Mergie M. Phillips. She was member of the Senior Citizens Center and she loved to dance. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Samuel M. Wright. Survivors include two children, Malinda J. Bates of Dover, Scott J. Woods of Henderson, Nev.; two brothers, James Wallace Wo...

Obituary: John BlackardCLARKSVILLE — John Irvin Blackard, 95, of London died April 1, 2017, in Clarksville. He was born on Sept. 2, 1921, in Hickey Town. He served in the Army in WWII. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert E. Lee Blackard and Irene Hickey Blackard; his wife Cathryn; two brothers; three sisters; and his son-in-law, Phil Edward Easley Sr. He is survived by sons, John W. Blackard of Hickey Town, Boyd G. Blackard of Hickey Town, and Terry D. B...

Obituary: Mattie PayneMattie Payne, 90, of Russellville passed away Monday, April 3, 2017. She was born Nov. 29, 1926, in Carden Bottom to James Edgar and Effie King Abston. She is preceded in death by her parents; sister, Grace Abston Hart; brother, Cleo Abston; three nephews, Terry Bennett, Phillip Newport and Danny Newport. She is survived by her loving husband of 68 years, Lee Payne; three children, Eddie Payne, Kathy Piltz, and Dianne Barchett; sister, Helen A...

Obituary: Tommy ViaDARDANELLE — Thomas “Tommy” Allen Via, age 54, of Plainview died Monday, April 3, 2017, at UAMS in Little Rock. He was born Nov. 6, 1963, at Amarillo, Texas, to Norbin Ray and Mary Nell Smith Via. Tommy enjoyed a lot of things and lived life to the fullest. Most of all he loved his family, especially his children. He was preceded in death by his father, Norbin Via; stepfather, Larry Bates; stepbrother, Scott England; and stepsister, Kimela Rey...

Obituary: Roy AsbillDANVILLE — Roy McConnell Asbill, age 90, of Danville, passed away Monday March 27, 2017, at Chambers Memorial Hospital. He was born Nov. 19, 1926, in Dallas, Texas, to the late Everett and Eupha Nichols Asbill. Roy was a member of the Danville United Methodist Church. He was a retired sales manager for Continental Grains. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Jean Asbill; brothers, Morris, Everett, Dan and Jimmy Asbill. Survivors incl...

Obituary: David McVeyATKINS — David McVey, 74, of Atkins, passed away Sunday, April 2, 2017, at his home. He was born May 28, 1942, in Atkins, son of the late Robert L. and Zettie Bone McVey. He was of the Baptist faith. He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Delma McVey, Roy Neil McVey, Kenneth McVey, and Shelby McVey and two sisters, Olene McVey and Ruby C. Travis. He is survived by a brother, Doyle McVey and wife Dorothy of Russellville; and se...

Obituary: Roy Darter Jr.DARDANELLE — Roy Darter Jr., age 87, of Dardanelle, died Monday April 3, 2017, at his home. He was born March 12, 1930, at Ozark, to the late Roy Darter Sr. and Syble Howard Darter. He was a member of the National Rifle Association. He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, James Boyd Darter and three brothers. Survivors include his wife of 69 years, Marie Darter of Dardanelle; two children, Jimmy Loyd Darter of Dardanelle, Sharon Farr...

Obituary: Mary ParkerMary Jo Parker, 82, of London, passed away Saturday, April 1, 2017, at her home. A daughter of William and Blanche Holyfield Baughman, she was born Dec. 16, 1934, in Hattieville. She was a Russellville High School graduate. She married Arval Lee Parker, on March 12, 1955, at London. She was a homemaker. Mary Jo’s accomplishments included being loving wife, sister, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great-great grandmother. She attended...

Obituary: Bonnie MeimerstorfBonnie D. Meimerstorf, age 82, of Russellville died Saturday, April 1, 2017, at the Arkansas Hospice River Valley Home surrounded by her family. She was born Aug. 23, 1934, in Russellville to Cecil Odell and Kathleen Singleton Smith. She was a lifetime member of East Point Baptist Church. Her family always came first and she loved her animals. She was preceded in death by her parents. Survivors include her husband of 60 years, Frank Meimerstor...